f lashback
April 19, 1984…
'Advance Australia Fair' was declared the
country's national anthem. The former anthem,
'God Save the Queen', became known as the
royal anthem; it is played at events in Australia
attended by the Queen or other members of the
royal family.
The transition to a new national anthem was
neither quick nor easy. In the 1820s – 160 years earlier
– Australia had begun contemplating replacing 'God
Save the Queen'. A number of public opinion polls were
held over subsequent years to determine a new anthem.
Finally, in 1977, 'Advance Australia Fair' won a national
poll with 43.2 per cent of seven million votes. (The
other contenders were 'Waltzing Matilda', 'God Save the
Queen' and 'Song of Australia'.)
Written and composed in 1878 by Peter Dodds
McCormick, 'Advance Australia Fair' first caught on in
Sydney when it was performed at Saint Andrew's Day
celebrations the same year (pictured below). A choir of
10,000 later sang an amended version at the inauguration
of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
Some of the original words of the song have been
changed for the official version in keeping with the
times. For example, "Australia's sons let us rejoice" has
become "Australians all let us rejoice", and "For loyal sons
beyond the seas" has been changed to "For those who've
come across the seas".
